From Uche Usim, Abuja
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Nigeria will begin the local production of uniforms for the military and paramilitary personnel from January 2023.
This was disclosed by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in a statement on Monday.
According to the Commission, the project is a Joint Venture Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and Sur Corporate Wear which has merged to become Sur Corporate Wear Nigeria Limited.
The DICON-Sur collaboration, which spans a 20-year concession period, is expected to produce uniforms for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Civil Defence and other paramilitary organisations.
In a meeting at the instance of the ICRC, the Commission’s Acting Director General, Michael Ohiani, charged all stakeholders in the project to quickly demolish all hurdles stacked against the smooth completion of the factory and revert to the Commission in one week.
At the rescheduled meeting chaired by Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, Director of the Contract Compliance Department (CCD) in the ICRC, he urged all stakeholders to ensure that the project is completed within the stipulated time frame.
The Director said that the project was very important to the nation as it will curb capital flight, create over 920 jobs and will also be a thing of pride for the nation to produce its own uniforms.
He added that as it progresses, the DICON Sur joint venture is expected to begin to source all its raw materials from within Nigeria.
“The fact that we produce our military and paramilitary uniforms locally is a pride to all of us. It is a pride that we all must uphold.
“Sudan is producing their own military kits and I know DICON can do it if they have the right support,” he said.
He assured all stakeholders that the ICRC as part of its regulatory function will liaise with all the relevant government agencies to fast track the ongoing process of securing approval for off takers when production begins in January.
He hinted that going forward; the ICRC through its Contract Compliance Department (CCD) will make the DICON Sure Project a priority and as such monitor its progress until it is completed.
He pledged that the ICRC will continue to intervene to make PPP projects operate smoothly.
Speaking at the interactive meeting, the Managing Director of Sur Corporate Wear Nig. Ltd., Burhan Can Karabulut commended the management of ICRC for intervening and ensuring that the project was hitch-free.
He also extended the commendation of the investors, adding that following the intervention of the ICRC and the meeting of stakeholders that ensued, the investor had agreed to release funds for the completion of the project.
He said that the company had so far taken the project to 68 per cent completion, adding that the remaining funds for the project will be released soon so as to meet the completion goal.
“If the work resumes in July, it is assumed that we can start commissioning as of January, but this January, the commissioning will not be 100 per cent production,” he said.
He however said that the designs for the uniforms had yet to be approved and as such the company cannot source its raw materials for production, stressing that without the approval, the production could not begin. END.